Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have gained increased scholarly attention due to their increased popularity as a social and communication phenomenon. SNSs have altered the expectations and standards for interpersonal and intrapersonal communication perceptions and processes. As visual social mediums, SNSs such as Facebook and Instagram use have been examined under the theoretical lenses of social comparison theory (Frampton & Fox, 2018; Hendrickse, Arpan, Clayton, & Ridgway, 2017; Perloff, 2014) and self-discrepancy theory (Bessenoff, 2006). However, there are few studies that have examined the associations between Instagram users’ self-discrepancies, photo manipulation frequencies, and romantic relationship outcomes. Thus, guided by self-discrepancy theory (Higgin, 1987) and recent work on romantic relationship outcomes and social media usage, the aim of this thesis is to examine a sequential correlation between self-discrepancy, photo manipulation, Instagram-related relationship conflict, and negative romantic relationship outcomes among Instagram users. Specifically, it was predicted that increased actual-ideal self-discrepancies would predict negative romantic relationship outcomes through increased Instagram photo-manipulation and Instagram-related conflict. A total of 264 Instagram users aged 18 to 63 years (M = 21.34, SD = 4.99) completed an online survey questionnaire. Analysis of a serial multiple mediator model using bootstrapping methods indicated that actual-ideal self-discrepancy was sequentially associated with increased photo-manipulative behavior and Instagram-related conflict, which was related to increased negative romantic relationship outcomes. These findings suggest that when Instagram users alleviate an actual-ideal discrepancy in the form of photo-manipulative behaviors on Instagram, risk of Instagram-related conflict and negative romantic relationship outcomes may follow. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / 2019 / November 1, 2019. / Body Image, Instagram, Personality, Romantic Relationships, Self Discrepancy, Social Networking Sites / Includes bibliographical references. / Russell B. Clayton, Professor Directing Thesis; Felecia Jordan-Jackson, Committee Member; Arienne Ferchaud, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_752381 |
| Contributors | Stewart, Veronica Tyler (author), Clayton, Russell B. (professor directing thesis), Jordan-Jackson, Felecia F. (committee member), Ferchaud, Arienne (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Communication and Information (degree granting college), Department of Communication (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, master thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (49 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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